Line judges are not being used at Wimbledon for the first time in its 148-year history.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club confirmed last October that line judges – a familiar sight and sound around courts – were to disappear from 2025 onwards.
Yells of ‘out’ and ‘fault’ from line judges will be replaced by electronic line calling which give automated calls, informing the players and chair umpire of decisions during play.
The technology will be used in all qualifying and main draw matches at Wimbledon.
‘The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation,’ Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton said.
‘Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating.
‘For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.
‘We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously.
‘Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.’
The chair of the Association of British Tennis Officials, Malgorzata Grzyb, added to BBC Sport: ‘There is a bit of sadness of course – it is the end of a tradition at Wimbledon, but it is something we anticipated.
‘We have watched the developments in major tennis events around the world – two of the Grand Slam tournaments already use electronic line calling. I think this was inevitable it was going to happen.’
Which other Grand Slams have electronic line calling?
Wimbledon’s move means the clay-court French Open is the only major yet to replace line judges.
The Australian Open was the first Grand Slam to adopt electronic line calling in 2021, while the US Open followed suit a year later.
The French Open intend to maintain tradition and say they are unwilling to lose human control, meaning players are unable to challenge decisions using electronic replays.
‘I think we are right to keep our referees and line judges at Roland Garros,’ said Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT).
‘The federation wants to keep our referees for as long as we can. I hope we’ll be able to maintain it in our tournaments in the future.’
Electronic line calling uses cameras, computers and sensors to track the ball’s trajectory – similar systems are used in cricket with Hawk-Eye and the Decision Review System.
The ATP now uses the technology across all events, while it is becoming increasingly common in WTA events.
What do the players think of the change?
Most players have backed the introduction of electronic line calling, having previously been able to challenge a certain number of human calls in each set.
Roger Federer, arguably the greatest player in history, was a known critic of the ‘challenge system’ but came around to the technology later in his career.
Challenges have been an enjoyable aspect of the sport – with crowds relishing the anticipation and tension as Hawk-Eye displayed replays on on-court screens – but those are now also a thing of the past.
Former British number one Tim Henman believes it would have been ‘very bizarre’ for Wimbledon not to adopt the new technology from 2025 onwards.
Removal of line judges from Wimbledon ‘inevitable’
‘I think they — and I wouldn’t speak for them individually — probably recognise that with the evolution of the technology and the consistent change across many of the other tournaments that this is probably inevitable.
‘So I think for many of them they had expected this change to come along and for those that will be joining us for the Championships in the match assistant role obviously they’re delighted still to be part of delivering the Championships.
‘The time is right for us to move on.’
Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club
‘When you look at the technology within the sport, every event on the ATP Tour is going to have electric line calling this year,’ he said in a roundtable which Metro attended.
‘If Wimbledon took a decision to keep line judges I think that would have looked very bizarre at just one event.
‘Look, I completely appreciate, and Wimbledon is very aware, of the eco-system with line judges. Where do our umpires come from? Where do the referees at junior tournaments come from?
‘That is a very important eco-system so we all need to be aware of that. But when you look at the tech that’s available with electric line calling, I think it’s absolutely the right decision.’
The move will, theoretically, end controversy over tight calls and stop players expressing anger at nearby line judges.
Last year, Russian player Andrey Rublev was disqualified from the Dubai Tennis Championships for unsportsmanlike conduct after screaming in the face of a line judge following a disputed call.
But some players have complained that they have been unable to hear the automated calls from ELC, especially in matches with raucous atmospheres.
AELTC chief Bolton said: ‘I think they — and I wouldn’t speak for them individually — probably recognise that with the evolution of the technology and the consistent change across many of the other tournaments that this is probably inevitable.
‘So I think for many of them they had expected this change to come along and for those that will be joining us for the Championships in the match assistant role obviously they’re delighted still to be part of delivering the Championships.
‘The time is right for us to move on.’
Despite the introduction of ELC technology, there will still be 80 ‘match assistants’ at Wimbledon assigned to matches in all the courts.
They will support the umpires and will resume their role as line judges if the technology goes down.
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